Start your 16 hours in Shenyang with a visit to the Imperial Palace, a mini-Forbidden City displaying Manchurian, Han and Tibetan architectural influences. It was built by Nurhachi, the first emperor of the Manchu state, a burgeoning power to the northeast of China which was later to establish the Qing dynasty and overthrow the Ming dynasty. Explore some of the palace's 90 buildings, and see its pavilions, towers, halls and imperial quarters. Marvel at the antique furniture, musical instruments, paintings and weaponry on display.

Then make the short trip to Marshall Zhang's Mansion. Now a museum, this historical place is the former residence of Marshall Zhang, war hero and brother of the founder of the Chinese Naval Academy. Learn all about his life and times at this fascinating place.

Round off a history-heavy morning with a visit to Zhongshan Square in the heart of Shenyang. Though the square is named after Dr. Sun Yat-sen, it is another Chinese revolutionary whose imposing statue dominates the landscape: Chairman Mao Zedong. Today the square is used as a venue for musical events and soccer matches, and a meeting place for artists and calligraphers.

Find a restaurant on any of the streets that radiate from Zhongshan Square, and enjoy a delicious local lunch. Most of the restaurants serve Dongbei or Shandong style food, with a few strange local snacks thrown in for good measure.

Not far from Zhongshan Square lie the city's shopping districts of Taiyuan Jie and the 396-year-old pedestrianized Zhong Jie. After your lunch, head there for a spot of shopping or a coffee in one of its trendy cafes. But don't get too carried away – the highlight of the day awaits 13 kilometers to the east of the city.

And that would be the Eastern Tomb, where rest the earthly remains of Nurhaci, the first emperor of the Manchu state. The large complex of tombs also contains the body of his Empress Xiaoci Gao Yehenla. This is one of the era's most perfectly preserved tombs, and is inscribed on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.

Head back to the city center for dinner. Try a Korean Barbecue - you'll have no trouble finding one of these in Shenyang, and they are generally very good. You'll sit around a table with a small charcoal pit in the center, while the waitress will grill your meat, vegetables and fish at the table.

After dinner, move on to the Liaoning Grand Theater to see the local variety show known as ''Er Ren Zhuan'' (two people turning). It doesn't matter too much if you can't speak Chinese – there's enough hilarity in the performer's actions to keep you rolling in your seats. Check local listings first – an ''Er Ren Zhuan'' show is bound to be on somewhere.

Wrap up your 16 hours in Shenyang with a drink and a dance at one of the city's nightclubs. The Bee House on Feng Tian Street draws the student crowd, while Hongjie Disco Club on Taiyuan Nanjie offers a slightly more up-market ambiance.